Noise wall to be built around Bell substation after community fight

A 10-month campaign has resulted in a noise wall around the electrical substation just 6m from homes. But neighbours say the fight will continue.

Residents near Bell Station have been protesting the construction of an electrical substation since May. Picture: Ellen Smith

A long campaign for safer noise levels at Bell station has finally been rewarded but neighbours claim the solution is just “putting lipstick on a pig”.

The Level Crossing Removal Project will build a noise wall around an electrical substation in Gertrude St, which went into operation in August.

The Bell Residents Group had protested the construction of the substation since May, claiming there had been no community consultation and it was too close to family homes.

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Independent experts then performed noise level testing, raising questions on the substation’s ability to stay within Environmental Protection Agency noise requirements.

Bell Residents Group spokesman Mitch Wall said they had been pushing the LXRP to act on the problem for months.

“If they’d consulted the community from the get go they wouldn’t have to spend all this money remediating a problem they’ve caused,” he said.

Mr Wall said the substation was clearly audible from nearby houses and while the group was glad something was being done, the solution was “putting lipstick on a pig”.

“In the end a substation should never have been built within six metres of a bedroom window,” he said.

LXRP project director Steve Brown said the substation was an essential part of a new train timetable and allowed for additional services.

“We continue to regularly communicate with residents to understand their needs and address concerns,” he said.

A temporary noise wall has been erected while a permanent wall is being built.

Mr Wall said the group would now focus on getting involved with the level crossing removal, while continuing to demand for the substation to be relocated.

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